What is Facebook’s Open Graph?
It has been almost exactly a year since Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed the Open Graph at the 2010 F8 Developer Conference and we are starting to see its effects on the web and the way businesses and consumers are interacting with it. For those not familiar, Facebook’s Open Graph is a platform that allows websites and apps to share information about users in order to personalize offers, features, and services to each individual’s interests and preferences — even if that user has never visited the site before.
Participating websites can display information specifically tailored to your interests without requiring you to sign in on their website or provide them with any information. It is essentially a much larger extension of Facebook’s Connect feature that can offer far more detailed insight into the interests and behaviors of individual users.
For example, say I love cameras and spend a lot of time online reading reviews, looking at cameras, and following my favorite brands on Facebook. When I log onto a website, such as Amazon, I may see ads for cameras, or better yet, if Facebook’s Open Graph is integrated into your website you can tell that I really love Canon Cameras and offer me a great deal on the new model you just got in stock. This new, personalized way of conducting business in the 21st century is vital to standing out from your competitors and making your customers feel loved and understood.
5 Reasons To Add Facebook’s Open Graph To Your Website
- Promote Your Site In Your Users’ News Feeds
When users are connected to your website through Facebook, your website has the ability to publish content to that user’s page that will in turn show up on their News Feed. For example, if a users Foursquare account is linked to their Facebook page, Foursquare can publish status updates when they unlock badges, earn the mayor title, or just check-in around town. Those posts associated with Foursquare can then be seen be that user’s network of friends, which can lead to some powerful advertising from your brand as its shared to relevant markets by people that they trust. - Easy Login and Signup
Kiss the problem of forgotten user names and passwords goodbye. Facebook’s Open Graph built in features eliminate the need for users to remember their login information for your website because they can login through their Facebook account with just a simple click. These features can also make the signup process very easy for new users. Your website can pull all of the necessary signup information from a user’s existing Facebook account, such as their name and picture, and dramatically speed up the signup process to eliminate the headaches associated with all those tedious forms. With over 600 million users this significantly increases your chances of earning that new loyal customer. - Offer Users A Personalized Experience
With Facebook’s Open Graph, websites can pull detailed information about each user to help build a more personalized website experience for every individual who comes to your the site. Depending on the type of business you operate, you can also use this information to create an exclusive and interactive experience that is unique to each visitor. For example, you can offer personalized greetings, provide special rewards on birthdays and anniversaries, suggest a product based on their likes and interests on Facebook, or offer relevant suggestions based on what that user has recently been viewing online. The list goes on and on. - Reach Your Market More Effectively
Since this platform shares information of the interests and behaviors of users, your website can now offer the right products and deals to the right people without any of the hassle. By knowing what your potential customers are interested in buying before they even land on your website, you can immediately offer them what they are looking for and provide an experience that can seem almost magical. - It’s The Future!
Whether you like it or not, Facebook’s Open Graph seems to be the future of where online interaction is headed. The possibilities of how businesses can use this shared network of information is nearly endless, and people are finding new ways to leverage it every day. For now, the Open Graph is still catching on and can be a great way to get a leg up on your competition, however, I can assure you if your business does not act quick it will be left in the dust.
To add Facebook’s Open Graph to your website simply follow the instructions found in our Resources Section for How To Add Facebook’s Open Graph. If you need some additional advice with how best to integrate Facebook into your digital web strategy, please contact us or give us a shout out on our Facebook page. We are here to help!
If you have used Facebook Connect or have Facebook’s Open Graph integrated into your website, tell us what you think.
